SHAM SEAMEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 97, 26 April 1932, Page 6

SHAM SEAMEN.

On two eonsecut?ve days there has appeared in your paper an account of seamen having been arrested and convicted on charges of theft from various shops during the recent riots in Auckland. In fairness to all seamen throughout the Dominion. I should like to point out that none of these cases which your reports concern refer to bona-flde seamen. Magistrates when accepting their statements as regards their legitimate employment should be more careful in ascertaining the truth of their statements. Every bona-fide seaman is issued with a discharge stating his character, ability and sobriety if deserving of it. Where men are brought into court 011 a felonous charge and declare they are seamen they should be made to show their papers, or should not be classed as such, as 90 per cent, if not more, of the cascn which appear in newspapers of the disgraceful conduct of persons who claim the profession of a seaman have no legitimate claim to the title. The seafaring fraternity sufi'er in public esteem 011 account of a clf.rs that in their vernacular are known as '"bums." A SIC AM AN.